Ohio State’s three biggest stars met with reporters from all over the country in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Buckeye wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, linebacker Sonny Styles and safety Caleb Downs each fielded a variety of questions about how they’re approaching the upcoming season after winning the national championship last year, which of their teammates are standing out to them this offseason and much more over the course of 30-minute interview sessions for each player.
Below, we’ve recapped some of the most notable and interesting comments from each player’s interview session. You can also watch the video of each player’s full interview session below.
WR Jeremiah Smith
“It's truly a blessing. I don't take it for granted. … I’m probably the youngest kid here. Just taking it all in, it's like I'm a little kid here. Just sitting down with people and having great conversations about not only football but life as well, and I’m just taking it all in.”– Jeremiah Smith on being Ohio State’s first sophomore at Big Ten Media Days
- Smith said getting bigger, faster and stronger was a big point of emphasis this offseason. He says he currently weighs 225 pounds after weighing 215 pounds last season, but wants to be around 223 for the season.
- On Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz: “Both of them guys are great … I just can't wait to see how the quarterback competition goes this fall camp.”
- Smith thinks Kenyatta Jackson Jr. could be a first-round NFL draft pick.
- Asked if he thinks he’s the best receiver in college football, he said he thinks he is. Asked why, he replied, “You tell me, I don’t really know.”
- Smith said he doesn’t go out much in Columbus anymore because of all the attention he gets. After games, he typically goes back to his apartment and hangs out with his family.
LB Sonny Styles
“I think for us, it's just taking this year and attacking it and proving all the doubters wrong, and not living off last year's national championship hype … We've got something to prove every day and have a chip on our shoulder.”– Sonny Styles on Ohio State’s mentality entering the 2025 season
- Styles said he feels “super confident” now that he has a full year of playing linebacker under his belt. “Year two of the position, I'm just getting more and more comfortable, confident in what I'm doing.”
- Styles said Caleb Downs, Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, Austin Siereveld and Carnell Tate are among the Buckeyes who have stepped up as leaders this offseason.
- Like Smith, Styles said Jackson has looked like a future first-round pick this offseason.
- On Arvell Reese: “He’s probably the most athletic linebacker in the country.”
- Asked who would play Ryan Day in a movie, Styles said walk-on long snapper Collin Johnson. “The kid’s hilarious. He sounds just like Coach Day. He imitates some of the things he says in meetings, he sounds just like him.”
- Styles said he thinks the Big Ten is the best conference in college football.
- Asked about Ohio State’s defensive tackles, Styles described Kayden McDonald as “a monster” and “one of the best nose tackles in the country.” He also said Eddrick Houston is “going to be a great player,” Will Smith Jr. has taken a big jump this offseason and Tywone Malone is “another guy who could be a baller.”
S Caleb Downs
“I feel like there's a hunger. We've worked out vigorously trying to get better, trying to better ourselves physically and mentally. Just finding ways to chop wood, carry water, push ourselves to get better at the little things every day.”– Caleb Downs on Ohio State’s mentality this offseason
- Downs described Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Caden Curry, Arvell Reese and Jermaine Mathews Jr. are “elite players” and he’s excited to see what all of them do on the field this season.
- Downs described Matt Patricia as an “elite mind” and said “it’s an honor to be around him.”
- While there was talk last offseason that Downs could play some snaps on offense, he said he hasn’t been thinking about that this offseason, though he’s willing to play any role Ohio State asks him to.
- Downs said he could see Nick Saban coming back to coaching, but he hasn’t talked to Saban about it. “If he does, I'm sure he'll make a big impact on college football again. But I don't know, I mean, that's going to be some news if he decides to do that.”
- Downs said Mathews and Brandon Inniss are the biggest trash talkers on the team.
